Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-29


trains coming in and e ing out were
crowded, lsrge hotels were erected and
continually filed with travellers. board
ing houses, stores and all characters Of
business improved as never before, and
Florida enjoyed boom which was truly
wonderful. The railroads entering made
money by the increased travel induced by
the low rates, but they were not satisfied
In an evil hour, when their Golfers were
full and they were feeling Independent,
they reasoned that now as they had the
travel established, they could afford to
raise the rates. which they did. This
WAS two years ago. At that time Cali
fornia, seeing what low rates had
done for Florida, concluded to try the
virtue of reduction, and from Kansas
City tickets to San Diego could be
purchased at one time as low as 50.
The tide of travel that was going into
Florida suddenly ceased, and directed its
course to the golden slope. The South
ern Pacific and Northern Pacific flooded
the country with printed matter, paid
agents and representatives and secured
people by the thousand. Florida trains
were empty, her hotels tenantless and
her watering places and health resorts
deserted, while California swarmed with
travellers and prospectors. Thousands
merely passed through the. state for
pleasure, but when they reached their
homes they advocated and advertised the
place, and secured thousands more
excurslonists, many of whom remained.
| The rate war ceased but the railroads
being alive to the benefits Of low rate
Still continued to sell round trip tickets
unprecedentedly low, and instead of
growing Independent and careless IS was
the case with the Florida roads, they
still keep up their efforts. Low rates are
still in force, printed matter is distributed
and ticket agents are paid commissions
for selling tickets. The tide of travel
still continues, real estate has gone up
wonderfully, and THE GAZETTE has it
from excellent authority that as soon as
the rush ceases, we will hear of another
rate war between the railroads and an
other reduction in fares. The people of
California would have made money il
they had paid the travelling expenses of
every one who visited the state; SO would
the railroads. We will not soon hear of
increased passenger rates to that state:
the railroads are making money, and they
will not, as did the Florida roads, permit
their avarice to over reach itself.
What is the condition of affairs in
Texas? The Beach Hotel in Galveston,
one of the finest in the south and
splendid winter resort is closed up for
the winter; no visitors are at Corpus
Christi, San Antonio or other Texas
towns, though they are as attractive win
ter resorts as any cities in Florida or Cali
torris, People are not coming into the
state excepting to pass through to Cali-
FORMS and all because no effort is being
made to have them do so. Our people
should endeavor to effect change. A
little work now will be worth more than
q great deal six months from now. Some
road should be selected to take the initla-
tive if the pool or the traffic association
will not. Our merchants and manufac-
turers bureau should confer with similar
bodies in other cities and see what can
be dore.